Exceptional Global Adventures
Maddy Hull ’24 (anthropology, Spanish) plans a career in bioarchaeology, the study of biological remains recovered from archaeological digs. Two summers back, she researched skeletal remains dating from 2700 to 2000 B.C. She also interned in the State of Indiana’s Department of Historical Preservation and Archaeology.
UPDATE: In spring 2024, Maddy was named a Fulbright ETA. Through that prestigious program, she will teach English in Spain after graduation.
Hometown:
South Whitley, Ind.
Majors:
Anthropology and Spanish.
Clubs and organizations:
The Trout Gallery, Spanish Club, Romance Languages House, Archaeology Club and Alpha Lambda Delta.
Honors/scholarships/awards:
John Dickinson Scholar and the William K. Dare Honor Scholarship and Delaplaine McDaniel Prize.
Favorite book:
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang.
Favorite place on campus:
Denny and the Academic Quad.
"Hands-on learning experiences always leave the greatest impact on me, and at Dickinson, we have an abundance of them." --Maddy Hull '24
Favorite class/learning experience so far:
Hands-on learning experiences always leave the greatest impact on me, and at Dickinson, we have an abundance of them. That makes it difficult to choose a favorite! Two classes that come to mind immediately are Spanish for the Health Professionals and Forensic Anthropology. In the final project for Forensic Anthropology with Professor of Anthropology Karen Weinstein, each student worked to create a biological profile for an individual (a report that includes estimates for age at death, height and sex as well as additional information about illnesses that may have affected the individual in life). In Spanish for the Health Professionals with Lecturer in Spanish Asuncion Arnedo, we practiced translation techniques in the classroom and then gained practical experience by translating for Spanish speakers at a local clinic.
Favorite movie/show/podcast:
Ologies with Alie Ward.
On studying abroad:
I studied abroad in Málaga, Spain and also took part in Dickinson's program in Ecuador and Argentina The highlight of the experience was gaining new perspectives. For example, in my anthropology class, we read authors that I probably would not have encountered otherwise. I also improved my Spanish and gained a lot of confidence in general. [Update: After returning from studying abroad during her junior year, Maddy helped future study-abroad students as a global ambassador.].
About my internship:
In summer 2021, I interned in Indiana’s Department of Historical Preservation and Archaeology in Indianapolis. I was looking to learn more about different types of careers in archaeology, and this internship was a great opportunity. I was exposed to so many areas of archaeology—from paperwork and field reports to excavation and cleaning artifacts. It definitely helped me confirm that I want to pursue bioarchaeology as a career.
About my research:
In summer 2021 I was a fellow in the Bioarchaeology of Bronze Age Social Systems program, an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) funded by the National Science Foundation. Like my internship, I joined this project to learn more about bioarchaeology, and I was excited to do original research. Along with the seven other fellows and our two wonderful mentors, I completed a research project on a skeletal collection from the United Arab Emirates that dates to the Umm an-Nar Period, which is from 2700-2000 BCE. My research partner and I focused on maritime activities and their effects on the bones of the ear. You can learn more about my project on the REU program’s YouTube channel! I had such a great experience, and I gained skills in designing research projects, scientific writing and science communication.
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Published December 12, 2022